Storm season for Coppell and the Dallas/Ft. Worth metroplex is quickly approaching. Here are 5 things you can do to help prevent damage from a storm.
- Clear away outdoor items.
Make sure all lawn furniture, gardening tools, sporting equipment and other outdoor items are stored away if a storm is heading your way. High winds during a heavy storm can potentially pick up these items and send them flying through a window or far away from your home.
Putting away loose outdoor items in this situation can protect your house (and your neighbors’ houses) from unnecessary damage.
Also, make sure your windows and doors are closed and secured if you know a big storm is coming.
- Trim the trees.
Take time to examine the trees in your yard or surrounding your house. Storms will often snap large tree branches, which can damage your home’s siding, smash your car or even topple power lines and cause outages. Stand up on a ladder (carefully) and check how the branches are attached to the trunks of trees around your house. If the tree has a loose connection with a big branch, consider sawing it off. It might reduce some shade in the yard, but can potentially protect your home.
- Install storm shutters.
No matter how many preventative measures you take in your yard and around your home, the turbulent winds and heavy rains of a storm can still damage your windows. If you live in an area that frequently gets hit with high winds or is prone to hurricanes, storm shutters can prevent your windows from shattering and protect you from harsh debris. Installing impact resistant storm shutters adds an additional level of security to the fragile glass planes.
- Have standby power.
Electricity lines are vulnerable during storms. Fallen branches can easily snap the power lines, and lightning strikes can blow up transformers, causing major power outages. A whole-house surge protective device runs in the $200 to $300 range and is easy for an electrician to install.
- Flood-proof your home.
Heavy rainstorms can lead to flooding, which can potentially wreak havoc on homes. Water damage can devalue a house and cause significant problems with the foundation. If you live in areas with a high probability of flooding, there’s a chance your Homeowners’ insurance won’t cover the repairs, so be sure to research your policy. One preventative option is dry flood-proofing your house by making the foundation watertight with concrete. This prevents water from being able to enter the enclosed areas of a house. Be sure to seek necessary professional guidance before determining a flood-proofing method for your home.
Nobody can control the weather, but if you’re a Coppell homeowner that could potentially get struck by a large storm, you should always be prepared for the worst.
Doing your due diligence now can prevent major headaches, unexpected expenses and future safety hazards. While having a good Homeowners’ insurance policy to protect your property and finances is highly advisable, it’s even better when you don’t have to use it.
Article by: Rory Joyce, PropertyCasualty 360
